Adjustable connecter



June 21, 1932. v, 15 mm 1,863,970

ADJUSTABLE CONNECTER Original Filed April 7, 1925 Patented June 21, 1932 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FORREST V. DONALD, OF MARSHALLTGWN, IOW'A, ASSIGNOR TO GILSON MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF PORT WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN ADJUSTABLE CONNECTER Original application filed April 7, 1926,

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of adjustably connecting several elements together, and relates more specifically to improvements in the .const-ruction of adjustable connecters for uniting two elongated elements or bars in a manner permitting longitudinal adjustment of one transversely of the other.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable connector which is simple and compact in construction, and which is adapted to rigidly unite several elements in various positions of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable connecter which is especially adapted to interconnect a pair of transversely disposed elongated bars of polygonal cross-section, and which is conveniently manipulable.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable connector which is rigid and durable in construction, and which may be manufactured at minimum cost.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

The present application is a division of application Serial Number 100,264, filed April 7, 1926, now Patent No. 1,768,673, granted July 1, 1930, relating to improvements in garden tractor construction.

A clear conception of one embodiment of the inventionand of the mode of constructing and of manipulating devices built in accordance therewith, may be had by refer ring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one of the improved adjust-able connecters applied to transversely disposed rectangular bars.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the adjustable connecter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the adjustable connecter disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

lVhile the improvement has been illustrated herein as being specifically applied to a device for adjustably connecting a pair of application filed May 23,

rectangular implement supporting bars for ,a tractor or the like, it is not the intention to limit the scope of the invention by such specific, disclosure, and the novel features are obviously more generally applicable for other uses and purposes.

By referring to the drawing, it will be noted that the improved adjustable conopening in the. bracket (iadjacent to the set screw 8; and the vertical rectangular bar 5 which passes through the otherfopening adjacent to the set screw 11 is likevsdseslidable,"during adjustment, relative to the bracket 6 and transversely of the bar' 4. The lower outer end portions of the opening through the bracket 6 adjoining the upper end of which the set screw 8 is located, are

provided with inclined wedging surfaces 7 against which the set screw 8 is adapted to force one corner of the bar'et to thereby cause the surfaces 7 to urge the opposite sideof' the bar into firm engagement with the side surfaces 12 of the horizontal bracket opening. The inner portion of the opening through the bracket 6 adjoining the outer end portion of which the set screw 11 is located, is provided with oppositely inclined and disposed i pperjand lower wedgingsun faces'9, 10 located respectively above and below the set screw 11, against which the set'screw 11 is adapted :to firmly press the vertical bar 5 to lock the latter in'adjusted positionf i s During normal use of the improved adjustable connecter, the bracket 6 may be readily positioned at any point along the horizontal bard by merely releasing the set screw 8, sliding the bracket 6 along thebar 4 to the desired location, and subsequently manipulating the set screw 8 to urge thebar V 4 against the'inclined surfaces 7 and into locking engagement with the surfaces 12. it

The vertical bar 5 may be readily longitudinally adjusted within the vertical opening in the bracket 6 by merely releasing the set screw 11, sliding the bar 5 vertically to the desired location, and subsequently manipulating the set screw 11 to force the inner edges of the bar 5 into wedging and locking engagement with the inclined surfaces 9, 10.

It will be apparent-from the foregoing description, that the wedge, surfaces '7, 9, l0 and the set screws 8, 11 cooperating there with, provide simple and effective means for locking the bracket 6 in any desired position of adjustment relative to the bars 4, 5. By merely finishing these local wedging surfaces 7, 9, 1-0, necessity of machiningthe other surfaces of the-openings in the bracket 6, is avoided, thereby reducing the cost of machining to a minimum, The bracket 6 may be formed of a single casting, and the disposition of the wedge surfaces on opposite sides of the plane of coaction of the locking set screws with the adjacent bars, insures maximum rigidity of connection. The improved ,device may be manipulated with an ordinary wrench or a pair of pliers, and hasgone into extensive successful commerci-al use. a

It should be understood that it is not desired tolimit theinvention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of operation, herein shown and described, for various modifications. within the scope of-theclaims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent V 1., In. combinatioma bracket having a pair fopenings extending therethrough at an angle relative to each other, each of said openings being provided with endwise separated alined similarly inclined wedging surfaces,ca. bar extending through each of said openings, and a set screw associated with said bracket adjacent to each of said openings and-coasting with the adjacent bar between the separated ends of the corresponding wedging-surfaces to urge said bar into locking engagement with said corresponding set of inclined surfaces.

2. In combination, a one-piece bracket having openings therethrough at right angles to each other, each of said openings being provided with-a pair of endwise separated alined inclined end surfaces, a bar slidably associated with each of said openings, and

a, set screw, associated with said bracket betweenthe separated adjacent ends of each set of said surfaces for urging the adjacent bar into locking engagement with the inclined surfaces of said set.

3. In combination, a bracket having a pair of openings extending at an angle to each other, each of said openings having a set of endwise separated wedging-surfaces, abar movable along each of said openings, and a screw associated with said bracket at each of said openings and coacting with the adjacent bar between the spaced ends of the corresponding wedging surfaces to urge said bar into locking engagement with said corresponding set of wedging surfaces.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor-is affixed hereto.

FORREST V. DONALD. 

